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Georgia Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is positioned between the states of South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. It is among the top 10 most populous and is home to many large company headquarters including: Aflac, Coca-Cola, UPS, and Home Depot. It is among the fastest growing states and has an economy focused primarily on: communications, agriculture, transportation, government, real estate, and tourism. There is great natural scenery in this state with the Blue Ridge Mountains extending through the northern parts of the state as well as the central Piedmont.

Georgia is known as the “Peach State” due to its significant production of quality peaches. It has also taken on the nickname “The Empire State of the South” because it is home to many large companies. If you are a resident of Georgia and plan on driving your motorcycle, you need to know some basic legal information. The most important thing to remember is that you cannot ride your motorcycle without having it registered and showing financial responsibility. Financial responsibility can be shown by simply purchasing an insurance policy, but there are other methods that can be utilized to legally operate your motorcycle.

Georgia Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

As you may already know, you must meet the minimum legal insurance requirements in order to drive your motorcycle on public roads in Georgia. Each state has specific amounts of liability protection that you must have on your policy.

How to Establish Financial Responsibility in Georgia

The reason that you are required to establish financial responsibility is so that if you get into an accident, you will be able to reimburse others for damages that you may have caused. Most people do not have sufficient amounts of money saved up to financially compensate for major accidents, so they purchase insurance. In this state, you must either buy insurance through a licensed provider OR you must get approval for self-insurance.

Liability Insurance Policy – Go to any major insurance company and they will have you set up with a liability policy in no time.

Self-Insurance Policy – If you’d prefer not to go through an insurer, you can insure yourself by going through the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. Note: This option is not available to everyone. If you are interested and would like to find out more, call the following number: (800)-656-2298. An expert will tell you if you qualify for a self-insurance policy.

Motorcycles / Two-Wheeled Vehicles Defined

Every state has specific definitions for 2-wheeled vehicles that must be met. If your vehicle meets the criteria for one of the vehicles below, it can be legally driven with an insurance policy. If it doesn’t meet the definition of a vehicle below, you can contact the Georgia Department of Driver Services or the Georgia Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division. Ask them questions regarding registration, vehicle classification, and insurance.

Motorcycles: These are considered motor vehicles with saddles for the use of the rider that are designed to travel on not more than 3 wheels in contact with the ground. Tractors and mopeds (less than 50 cc) are excluded. All types of scooters, motorbikes, mini-bikes, etc. with engines greater than 51 cc are in the same classification.

Mopeds: Any motor driven cycles with engines that do NOT exceed 50 cc. These are exempt from being registered and you do not need a specialized license to drive. This means that you do not need to insure it unless you are going to take it out on state roads.

Georgia Motorcycle Insurance Minimum Requirements

Below are the specific amounts of coverage that you must have if you plan to ride your motorcycle throughout the state of Georgia. When you purchase a policy from a licensed insurer, they will make sure that your policy meets the requirements below.

Liability Insurance:

$25,000 bodily injury per person

$50,000 bodily injury per accident

$25,000 property damage per accident

It is important to keep in mind that the above amounts are the bare minimums required to ride your motorcycle. In the event of a serious accident, these amounts may not be enough financial protection. If you’d like to increase your limits, you can work with your insurer to determine amounts that would make you feel more secure.

Georgia Laws: Safety & Licensing Requirements

It is important to keep in mind safety requirements that are specific to the state of GA. Each state has different regulations regarding licensing, eyewear, and helmet requirements.

Helmets – You are required to wear a helmet regardless of age. The helmet must be compliant with FMVSS and standard 218. In other words, make sure that you get an official motorcycle-approved helmet. Passengers must also wear helmets.

Eye Protection – You are required to wear eyewear unless you have a motorcycle equipped with a windshield that can protect your eyes.

Note: It is recommended to use your headlight during the day while driving in GA.

Proof of Insurance in GA

Once you have purchased an insurance policy, your information should get submitted electronically to the Georgia insurance database. This is a statewide database that keeps records of all individuals that have purchased an insurance policy. Your insurer will submit your information so that it is on record.

Insurance ID Card – It is important to carry this card with you at all times while operating your motorcycle. Despite the fact that you may have purchased a policy, you still need to show that you have coverage. This card contains your policy number and information that can be shown to an officer of the law during a routine stop or in the event of an accident.

Insurance Binder – When you first get insurance, you may get issued an insurance binder with all of your information. You can use an insurance binder as proof of coverage for up to 30 days. Usually identification cards are preferred over binders, but if your card has not been received in the mail, you may need to use a binder temporarily.

Insurance Bill of Sale / Declaration – Another way to prove that you have purchased insurance is by showing the bill of sale and declaration page. These show that you have purchased a policy and are waiting for your ID card and electronic information to be entered into the state’s database.

Self-Insurance Certificate – If you opted to self-insure, you should receive a certificate from the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. They may issue this in the form of a card or various paperwork that you must keep with you while driving.

Penalty for Lack of Insurance in GA

You never want to be caught without insurance anywhere in the Georgia. If you are caught, you could end up facing fines, reinstatement fees, and other suspensions. It is best to always make sure that you have adequate coverage. Keep your proof of coverage with you at all times!

Suspended Registration – You could face up to 6 months with a suspended registration.

Reinstatement Fees – You may be charged a $25 lapse fee and a reinstatement fee of up to $160. This is pretty significant and could lead to further fines if you have multiple offenses.

Misdemeanor Charges – If you are caught driving your motorcycle without paying reinstatement fees and renewing your registration, you may be charged with a misdemeanor. This will go on your criminal record.

Georgia Motorcycle Insurance Companies

There are many insurance companies willing to work with you to find the perfect insurance policy to fit your needs and meet state requirements. Things become a little bit more complicated when you are trying to find a policy that fits your budget and offers good protection. With the free tool below, you can enter your Zip Code and compare the leading providers in your exact location. This should help save you a lot of time because the leading providers are automatically generated based on your precise area. Once you have gotten a few quotes and compared their rates, you can buy a policy from the company that you think is offering the best deal. In no time you’ll be cruising through the Empire State of the South!